Gibson powers Bulls past Mavericks

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Dallas, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Taj Gibson netted 20 points and pulled down
15 rebounds, as the Chicago Bulls used a fourth-quarter surge to claim a
100-91 triumph over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday at American Airlines
Center.

The Bulls trailed 85-84 with 5:07 to play, but Mike Dunleavy drained a 3-
pointer to spark a 10-0 Chicago run that gave the visitors a nine-point edge
with just 90 seconds remaining.

Jimmy Butler registered 19 points and seven boards, while Kirk Hinrich and
Dunleavy added 17 and 16 points, respectively, for the Bulls, who have won
three straight and eight of their last nine games.

"I thought we battled back and showed more discipline as the game went along,"
Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau said. "We had a lot of guys step up."

Chicago didn't take its first lead of the contest until late in the third,
when Carlos Boozer capped a 7-0 sprint with a reverse layup to make it 73-72
in favor of the Bulls with 2:48 left in the frame.

Dallas scored the final four points of the third to regain the lead and used a
7-0 spurt midway through the fourth to take an 85-84 lead on Ellis' running
dunk with just over five minutes left.

However, the Mavs managed just two more field goals the rest of the way,
allowing the Bulls to run away with the victory down the stretch.

"We were in front most of the first half and we let them climb back into it
with grit, and guts, and rebounding," Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle said.
"Down the stretch we had some good opportunities and made some mistakes, too."

Early on, Dallas drained five 3-pointers and shot nearly 55 percent from the
floor in the first quarter to build a 32-20 lead after 12 minutes.

The Mavs maintained a comfortable cushion for much of the second stanza until
Hinrich and Butler buried consecutive treys to cap a 10-0 surge that brought
the Bulls within two with 53.9 seconds left in the half.

Ellis split two free throws to send Dallas into the break with a 54-51 edge.